F50 = arched back, yes?. F50 case = arched or flat bottom?

[john_kidder]

Wow, a plethora of opinions!

Um, let me see, john_kidder, most of my archtop guitars have archbacks, too. The great majority of those cases have ever so slightly rounded backs, including my 'X-500 sized' DE400 case.

Right now, I'm guessing that some F50 cases have round backs and some have flat backs. Probably depends on year and 'availability within the year' from various case suppliers to Guild.

Thanks, fellas!

gilded

Well, gilded, now that I come to think about it a bit more, I actually have no way of knowing that the cases for my few archtops past and present were original, so I'd better just retract all earlier statements expressing any confidence at all.

But if I were a manufacturer of cases, wouldn't I just add padding to the interior on the bottom, beveled to match the curvature of the back of the guitar, rather than make an actual curved plywood bottom part for the case? I truly don't think I've seen a guitar case with an arched bottom like the common arched tops.

But, of course, the beauty of this board is that one can always stand to be corrected. I look forward to hearing from them that knows.

 

[john_kidder]

Wow, a plethora of opinions!

Um, let me see, john_kidder, most of my archtop guitars have archbacks, too. The great majority of those cases have ever so slightly rounded backs, including my 'X-500 sized' DE400 case.

Right now, I'm guessing that some F50 cases have round backs and some have flat backs. Probably depends on year and 'availability within the year' from various case suppliers to Guild.

Thanks, fellas!

gilded

Well, gilded, now that I come to think about it a bit more, I actually have no way of knowing that the cases for my few archtops past and present were original, so I'd better just retract all earlier statements expressing any confidence at all.

But if I were a manufacturer of cases, wouldn't I just add padding to the interior on the bottom, beveled to match the curvature of the back of the guitar, rather than make an actual curved plywood bottom part for the case? I truly don't think I've seen a guitar case with an arched bottom like the common arched tops.

But, of course, the beauty of this board is that one can always stand to be corrected. I look forward to hearing from them that knows.

 

[gilded]

John Kidder,

I'm over at the rehearsal studio and I just checked on all 4 Guild cases in the building. Two Dread sized cases, one late '60's, one late '70's/early '80's; both with flat backs. One F-sized case from '73; flat back. One X-500/Duane Eddy 'deep' case from the early-mid '70's; arched back.

All of the archtop guitars I remember (except early Charlie Christian Gibsons (and other super-cheap Gibbie archtops) have arched backs. Accordingly, their original cases will have arched backs, too.

Tell you what, when I go to Arlington this year, I'll try and keep an eye on case backs for 'informal sampling purposes'.

The thing about arched tops and backs on cases is that, like all uses of the arched shape, the basic design is stronger and less likely to crush
in. There, a clear, concise, unequivocal 'blanket statement'. Let the flaming begin!!!!

 

[gilded]

John Kidder,

I'm over at the rehearsal studio and I just checked on all 4 Guild cases in the building. Two Dread sized cases, one late '60's, one late '70's/early '80's; both with flat backs. One F-sized case from '73; flat back. One X-500/Duane Eddy 'deep' case from the early-mid '70's; arched back.

All of the archtop guitars I remember (except early Charlie Christian Gibsons (and other super-cheap Gibbie archtops) have arched backs. Accordingly, their original cases will have arched backs, too.

Tell you what, when I go to Arlington this year, I'll try and keep an eye on case backs for 'informal sampling purposes'.

The thing about arched tops and backs on cases is that, like all uses of the arched shape, the basic design is stronger and less likely to crush
in. There, a clear, concise, unequivocal 'blanket statement'. Let the flaming begin!!!!

 

[philr]

I am the original owner of a 1967 F50R and it's case is arched top and bottom. I forgot to add that it of course is a flat top and a solid rosewood arched back

I thought that all arched backs were laminate?

 

[capquest]

I am the original owner of a 1967 F50R and it's case is arched top and bottom. I forgot to add that it of course is a flat top and a solid rosewood arched back

I thought that all arched backs were laminate?

I haven't followed the various factories and what they built. Mine was made in late 1966 in Hoboken and is solid Brazilian Rosewood.

Here's a link to the pictures

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8363

 

[john_kidder]

Re: F50 case = arched or flat bottom?

if I were a manufacturer of cases, wouldn't I just add padding to the interior on the bottom, beveled to match the curvature of the back of the guitar, rather than make an actual curved plywood bottom part for the case? I truly don't think I've seen a guitar case with an arched bottom like the common arched tops.

This is what I meant: here's the main compartment from an old F412 case now on fleabay:

extra padding around the outside to make room for the arch. Anyone else got a case like this?

And here's a (flat bottom) case for an (arched back) D4-12:

I was reminded of this thread because a friend bought a D4-12 from a local pawnshop, sans case, and came over to try out various cases to see what he might be looking for.

 

[plaidseason]

The inclusion of an arched back case with an acoustic probably has more to do with the "level" of instrument than it has to do with the shape - meaning a number of case companies offer cases with both arched lids and backs, but it's to provide better protection and not to accomodate the shape of the instrument. My guess is that most arched back Guilds came with flat back cases. And that the better ones came with arched tops.

 

[Jake The Loafer]

My '87 JF-30-12 has the original Guild case & the top & bottom are arched.